Sentence upheld over fatal robbery

Court of Appeal upholds jail sentence against salesman whose robbery caused the death of a labourer.

DUBAI // The Court of Appeal today upheld a five-year jail sentence for a thief involved in a violent robbery that caused a man's death.

The 41-year-old Pakistani AA posed as a policeman when he approached the Bangladeshi labourer NR and asked him for an identification card on November 19, 2011.

When the labourer took out his wallet, the bogus policeman snatched it, took the money and ran away. The labourer then chased him to a dark alley, but the bogus policeman then pushed him forcefully into the wall. This caused a knock to the labourer's head which killed him instantly.

A cleaner told the court he saw the bogus policeman - who appeared to be drunk - asking for an ID from the labourer and ordering him to sit down.

AA was identified through a photograph police found at the scene.

He denied a charge of unintentional assault that lead to death and forceful theft when he appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court in February this year.

"I am not responsible for his death. I didn't pose as a policeman and I didn't steal his money," he told Judge Hamad Abdul Latif.

He will be deported following the completion of his prison term.